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Are you aware of the incandescent bulb phase out?

Incandescent light bulbs are in the final stages of the phase out.- they are said to be less energy efficient that their replacement counterparts, the (compact fluorescent lamps) or the LED (light-emitting diode). As of January 1, 2014, the US will no longer manufacture or import incandescent bulbs. Store may still sell their stock, but when they are gone, they are gone forever. 75W and 100W bulbs were phased out out 2012 & 2013 and the 40W and 60W as of January this year.

We’ve discovered that a lot of folks don’t yet realize this, so we thought we would attempt to help sort out the differences the alternatives to the incandescent bulbs now available.

The CFL bulbs that have been highly touted as the next best thing have both pro’s and con’s. Some consumers complain that they don’t last as long as advertised. They are somewhat fragile and they can succumb to overheating which can shorten the lifespan. They also contain Mercury , sometimes called quicksilver, a highly toxic heavy metal. It is especially toxic to the brains of both fetuses and children. According to Scientific American , it’s best to use sticky duct tape, a damp paper towel or a wet wipe (using gloves) to gather the material together, then scoop it up with a stiff paper into a glass jar with a metal lid to avoid toxic fumes. Brooms and vacuums should be avoided as they can spread the material to other rooms. Recycle these bulbs- do not put them into a landfill. On the plus side, CFL’s use about 75% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb, and their lifespan is around nine years!

LED bulbs are considered the most energy efficient. These are the bulbs that have been used in electronics for many years. LED bulbs also do not emit nearly the heat that any other bulb does, which helps to reduce cooling costs as well. This type of bulb is very durable, it does not have a fragile shell or a filament that can shatter as the old style incandescent did. The down side is that they are considerably more expensive than CFL’s. But, considering you will rarely, if ever replace them and they could save you as much as 85% on your energy bills, they may well be worth the initial investment!

With any of these options, check the packaging to see if the bulb works with a dimmer, if you have dimmer switches in your home. Not all of them can be used with a dimmer.